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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Ethical perspective on problems faced by companies in natural resource industries operating in countries with inadequate institutions

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Masteroppgave i økonomi og administrasjon - Universitetet i Agder 2009 This thesis looks at the ethical problems and difficulties that arise when large multinational corporations do business in countries suffering from corruption, poverty, and hunger. The countries in question are rich in natural resources, yet most of their people receive no benefits from the extraction of the resources. The thesis emphasizes the importance of institutions in relation to the ethical problems. A case study of Angola is undertaken to illustrate the ethical problems. The thesis discusses the problems with different ethical perspectives drawn from the three main schools of moral philosophy. The result is a conclusion about the moral rightness of actions found in the case study, about what responsibilities companies face, and about what steps a company should take when faced with the ethical problems.